Recycling is a fundamental element of the life cycle management of products and their constituent materials. Canada is a major producer of metals which are used in a wide variety of products both domestically and internationally. The recycling industry is a significant player in returning valuable materials back into the economy at the end of a products useful life. Manufacturers of many of these products are increasingly building into their strategic thinking sustainable development concepts, of which recycling is a key element. This paper will discuss the challenges facing the recycling industry and how the use of sustainable development strategies are being incorporated into corporate business plans. Also how government is responding to this changing awareness of the need to balance environmental, economic and social needs within the Canadian context.

Related articles

Now you might think me a little sad, but I have to confess that as a metallurgist, I always find it interesting just how closely the history of mankind is linked to advances in metal working. The first evidence of metal working in Europe dates from around 5500 BC with the extraction of copper, lead and precious metals and this was followed by the working of bronze from around 4000 BC, both of which mark key points in the emergence of modern civilisation more generally.
The growing use of new techniques to...

The producers of automobiles and electronics across Europe have been given the responsibility for the end-of-life capture, collection and recycling or recovery of the products that they put on the market. Under this Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation the focus is placed upon ‘polluter pays’ by making branded manufacturers and importers share the financial burden of the cost of collection and recycling. The current legislative measures have already placed high and ambitious targets on...

A recent study by state agency analyzed organic materials recycled since 2011, as well as food waste recovered in 2015. Findings show substantial organics recycling capacity.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) released a study in June 2016 analyzing the organic materials recycled since 2011, as well as food waste recovered in 2015. The facility reporting requirement in the North Carolina compost rules and the relationships built over the years with different players in the industry...

Our report examines industry sectors to show how businesses can focus on generating quality recycling by following the principles of the waste hierarchy.
In the current climate there’s a huge global market for materials of the right quality and this provides a real opportunity for those businesses that produce consistently high quality material for recycling. Growth in global recovered paper demand alone is expected to increase 2.5 per cent per year, reaching 346 million tonnes by 2029.
While there are...

Ship recycling at the end of a ship’s useful life aims to make the shipping industry more environmentally sustainable and is a major source of employment in developing countries. However, there are associated health, safety and environmental concerns. This study argues these concerns are due to inappropriate design and explains how ‘design for recycling’ can reduce the costs and risks of ship recycling.
The final stage of a ship’s life cycle — recycling — is essential for...

Customer comments

No comments were found for Recycling: Key Component of a Sustainable Development Strategy. Be the first to comment!